The potential of the use of antitude therapy in pediatric practice

Introduction.Coughing affects quality of life and is the most common reason patients seek medical attention. In children, establishing the pathophysiological cause of the condition associated with cough is of particular importance for making an adequate diagnosis and prescribing the correct therapy.

Target. To assess the efficacy and safety of butamirate use in the complex treatment of preschoolers with acute bronchitis.

Materials and methods. The initiative study was carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Declaration of Helsinki and included 63 patients with a dry cough symptom at the age of 3–7 years with a diagnosis of acute bronchitis. The effectiveness of therapy was assessed using a point system. In the main (1) group – 21 children – used a non-narcotic antitussive drug of central action butamirate, 5 ml of syrup 3 times/day before meals for 4,7 ± 0,6 days. In the main (2) group – 21 children – butamirate was administered at 25 drops inside 4 times/day for 4,9 ± 0,8 days. In the comparison group – 21 children – antitussives were used according to the protocol for the treatment of acute bronchitis.

Results. In 80,3 ± 5,4% of patients in the main (1 and 2) groups, by the fourth day of treatment with butamirate in relation to the comparison group, the state of health improved (0,5 ± 0,07 points, p = 0,032), the intensity of cough decreased (0,1 ± 0,01 points, p = 0,015), dry cough leveled out (0,3 ± 0,02 points, p =  0,023), the cough period decreased with exhausting cough (0,2 ± 0,01 points, p = 0,017). There were no statistically significant differences between the two main groups. In no case did butamirate cause respiratory depression, impairment of cognitive functions, sedation and drug dependence. In the comparison group, the patients’ state of health improved less intensely, the characteristics of dry cough persisted for a longer time.

Conclusions. Butamirate is effective and safe in the treatment of dry cough in acute bronchitis in preschoolers.

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